The 18th series of the NTA and Bafta award-winning entertainment show produced by BBC Studios will return in the autumn on BBC One putting the sparkle back into Saturday and Sunday nights.
Bill Bailey is an award-winning comedian, musician and actor
Bill says: “In these are strange times we're living through, it feels right to do something different and take on a new challenge. So I am delighted to be a part of this year's unique Strictly Come Dancing. My late mum Madrin would have loved it - I hope she'll be watching.”
Bill Bailey is a comedian, musician, author, documentary-maker and keen outdoors enthusiast best known for his live comedy and for the tv shows Black Books, Never Mind The Buzzcocks and QI. Bill is constantly in demand as an internationally touring comedian, and his live shows always feature ingenious and original musical elements drawing on Bill’s skills as a classically trained musician and multi-instrumentalist. His unique ability to entertain and educate was brilliantly demonstrated in his award-winning show, Bill Bailey’s Remarkable Guide To The Orchestra, where he performed with the BBC Concert Orchestra.
The news was revealed this morning on The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show on BBC Radio 2. Bailey told the DJ his late mother would have loved his appearance so he was doing it partly for her despite his lack of experience: "I haven’t been to stage school, haven’t lived for the dance as some may have done. I’m not Lord of the Dance. More sort of Caretaker of the Dance, going to be quite a challenge… that’s what this is all about!"
The other celebrities already confirmed by the BBC so far are:
Nicola Adams OBE, double Olympic gold medallist boxer.
Ranvir Singh, Political Editor for ITV’s Good Morning Britain, anchor for ITV’s Tonight and newsreader on ITN.
Clara Amfo, radio DJ and television presenter.
Max George, singer and actor.
Caroline Quentin, actor and presenter.
Jason Bell, broadcaster and former NFL player.
The remaining celebrity contestants joining the new series will be announced in due course.
